Golden State could be wiser with funds

I was talking to my neighbors the other day and the discussion somehow changed to how much it costs for us to live in the state of California. Normally I dislike speaking to folks about such things, however it got me thinking so later that day I started to conduct some research. What I discovered was a surprising to me. The California budget for this fiscal year officially totals $137.4 billion, with a general fund budget of $92.6 billion, $39.8 billion in special funds and approximately $5 billion in bond funds. However, that amount does not include $70 billion in federal funds and public pension payouts of approximately $50 billion. State expenditures this year will be close to a quarter-trillion dollars. My thought was where does all this taxpayer generated revenue go and why do our elected officials need more? We are looking at another sales tax increase, I just paid my California burning fee and don't forget the spring $150 fire fee tax just to name a few. I am trying real hard not to complain. But, it sure seems to me that our elected officials could act more elected. A better appreciation for the fiscal management of taxpayer money wouldn't hurt. This year the state of California spent $9.8 billion on prisons a large increase from 10 years prior when the state spent $4.8 billion. California's State Controller announced a $371 million overhaul of the government payroll system is heading for collapse. State parks officials intentionally under-reported the amount of money in two state accounts for 19 years. We even have 800 new laws beginning in 2013. According to a 2012 study by 24/7 Wall Street, California is the worst-run state taking into account debt per capita, budget deficits, unemployment, median household income, and the percentage of the population below the poverty line. On the bright side, I had the luck to grow up as a child, before the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.

Story Body:I was talking to my neighbors the other day and the discussion somehow changed to how much it costs for us to live in the state of California. Normally I dislike speaking to folks about such things, however it got me thinking so later that day I started to conduct some research. What I discovered was a surprising to me. The California budget for this fiscal year officially totals $137.4 billion, with a general fund budget of $92.6 billion, $39.8 billion in special funds and approximately $5 billion in bond funds. However, that amount does not include $70 billion in federal funds and public pension payouts of approximately $50 billion. State expenditures this year will be close to a quarter-trillion dollars. My thought was where does all this taxpayer generated revenue go and why do our elected officials need more? We are looking at another sales tax increase, I just paid my California burning fee and don't forget the spring $150 fire fee tax just to name a few. I am trying real hard not to complain. But, it sure seems to me that our elected officials could act more elected. A better appreciation for the fiscal management of taxpayer money wouldn't hurt. This year the state of California spent $9.8 billion on prisons a large increase from 10 years prior when the state spent $4.8 billion. California's State Controller announced a $371 million overhaul of the government payroll system is heading for collapse. State parks officials intentionally under-reported the amount of money in two state accounts for 19 years. We even have 800 new laws beginning in 2013. According to a 2012 study by 24/7 Wall Street, California is the worst-run state taking into account debt per capita, budget deficits, unemployment, median household income, and the percentage of the population below the poverty line. On the bright side, I had the luck to grow up as a child, before the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.